BishopAccountability.org
	Sex Abuse Suit Filed against 2 Augustinians By Kathleen A. Shaw Telegram & Gazette September 7, 2002 WORCESTER - Stephen Kelly of Princeton has filed suit in Suffolk Superior Court alleging he was sexually abused by members of the Augustinians of the Assumption when he was a student at the former Assumption Preparatory School in the 1960s. Named in the suit are the Rev. John Martin and Brother Robert Beaulac, identified as members of the Augustinians of the Assumption, and Assumption College. The men's religious order is also known as the Assumptionists. The order sponsors Assumption College and staffs St. Anne's parish in Sturbridge. The preparatory school closed in 1971. Heidi Paluk, a spokeswoman for Assumption, said they had not seen the suit yet and could not comment at this time. Rev. Martin is now living in New York and Brother Beaulac lives in Worcester, according to court documents. Mr. Kelly, who is marketing manager for Pioneer Cover-All in North Oxford, said he first came into contact with Rev. Martin during freshman orientation in the late summer of 1965. The priest was in charge of the orientation. Rev. Martin was also assigned as his English teacher during his first year and this is when he initiated a relationship with Mr. Kelly, according to the suit. Mr. Kelly alleges that Rev. Martin on occasion would ask him to visit in his living quarters. During these visits, he was given cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, according to the suit. Rev. Martin would then initiate physical and sexual contact, according to the suit. "In the spring of 1966, Father Martin initiated oral sexual contact with the plaintiff and requested that the plaintiff perform same upon him," according to the court documents. Mr. Kelly during his years at Assumption worked in the cafeteria. Brother Beaulac at this time initiated a relationship with Mr. Kelly, the documents allege. One day while working in the cafeteria, the weather became bad and Mr. Kelly had to stay on campus. He was given alcoholic beverages by Brother Beaulac to the point where he became intoxicated, according to the suit. "During the course of that evening, Brother Beaulac offered to the plaintiff accommodations for the evening within the infirmary at Assumption College," according to the suit. Mr. Kelly called his parents, who lived in Worcester at the time, and said he would be staying on campus. Brother Beaulac told Mr. Kelly to meet him in the infirmary at 9 p.m., according to the suit. By this time, Mr. Kelly had become "significantly intoxicated." Mr. Kelly was told at 9 p.m. by Brother Beaulac "that the infirmary was not available due to the lack of heat" and he would "be required to remain in Brother Beaulac's living quarters." During the night, Brother Beaulac initiated what the suit called "unwanted sexual contact" which allegedly included manual stimulation and masturbation. The incident caused the boy to become ill and he tried to leave.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.